Suction duster for venetian blinds



Dec. 13,1949 W STHOFF 2,490,892

SUCTION DUSTER FOR VENETIAN BLINDS Filed June 3, 1946 INVENTOR Earl C. Wesf/mff ATTORNEY Paten ted Dec. 13, 1949 SUCTION DUSTER FOR VENETIAN BLINDS Earl c. Westhofl, Bolton, Mo.

Application June 3, 1946, Serial No. 674,073

2 Claims. (c1.'15-394) This invention relates to attachments for vacuum cleaners, and more particularly to a duster of suction type adapted for cleaning Venetian blinds.

The principal objects of the present invention are to provide an attachment for vacuum cleaners having a head adapted for engaging the opposite sides of the slats or louvers of a Venetian blind and which may be inserted between the side straps of the blind as well as for cleaning the usually of substantial thickness to form a base for the blind.

The forked tubular portion of the device is tudinally back from the end In thereof. and the respective sections crimped together to form the turning the device on its side; to provide an attachment having tubular members or branches having longitudinal slots therein for picking up the particles of dust, dirt, etc., from the respective sides of the slats; to provide a covering of soft material to said tubular members adapted to engage the side faces of the louvers to wipe the dust and dirt therefrom; to provide a device of this character adapted to loosen soiling substances from surfaces to be cleaned and at the same time preventing escape of those substances into the surrounding atmosphere; to provide an improved construction of head for the attachment; and to provide improved elements and arrangement of elements employed in a device of this character which is. relatively simple, economical, durable and highly eflicient in operation.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the present invention I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my invention shown engaging a slat of a Venetian blind.

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross sectional view of the device taken on a line 2-2, Fig. 1.

Fig.3 is a side elevational view through the duster partly in section to better illustrate the invention.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal cross sectional view through the head of the device.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

l designates a. tubular member normally connected with a vacuum cleaner or like cleaning device (not shown) which is adapted at one end 2 for engagement with a, tubular member 3 having a. fork or head member on its end comprising spaced parallel tubular branches 4 and 5 arranged at an angle to the tubular member 3 and adapted to engage respective sides of aslat or louver 6 of a Venetian blind or the like Which'is usually held between supporting tapes I and 8 on the respective sides of the slat. The blind includes the usual bottom member or slat 9 which is tubular branches 4 and 5. The crotch H of the fork member is bent together as indicated at l2 (Fig. 4) to close the crotch and the outer ends of the respective tubes 4 and 5 are filled with a suitable plugging material l3 (Fig. 3).

The inner facing sides of the tubular branches 4 and 5 are each provided with a slot l4 tapered inwardly as indicated at l5 (Fig. 4) so as to provide an even distribution of the suction of air along the tubular members. The tubular member 3 is curved near the juncture ofthe crotch of the forked head as best illustrated in Fig. 3 so the head will be in horizontal position when the useris reaching up to the upper slats so as to provide for insertion of the head of the device over the slats when the blind is in hanging positilcgm without standing on a ladder, chair or the H e.

The forked head comprising the tubular branches 4 and 5 is covered with a dusting material I! having a base l8 secured to the tubular branches as well as the crotch ll of the forked member by gluing or other suitable means. I

have found washed sheeps wool best suitable for cated at 26 (Fig. 2) to conform to the taperedv slot l4 in the tubular branches 4 and 5 and the rear end of the material is of a length to be folded over and cover the ends of the tubular branches as indicated at 2| (Figs. 3 and 4).

In using the device it is apparent that the inner tufts of thesheeps wool will not only remove loose dirt from the soiled surfaces, but due to their contact with such surfaces, will also remove greasy substances. It is also apparent that simultaneously with cleaning, the dust and loose particles of material will be held by the wool material to prevent escape of the dust into the surrounding atmosphere, thus preventing resettlement on the fiat surfaces or other parts of the room.

3 v terial may becleaned byturning the brush on its side and passing the 'wool material thereover to dust and clean the same and there be' enough suction of air through the woolmateriai to carry the dust and dirt to the sweeper.

While I have here shown the tubular branches 7 4' and 5 to be substantially circular, it is also contemplated that they may be substantially ovalsweeper and the blinds cleaned while in hanging position by the user while standing on the floor of the room, from which position the uppermost louvers may be easily reached.

What I claim and desire to secure by letters Patent is:

1. A suction duster for Ventian blinds comprising, a tubular member adapted for connection at one end thereof with a source of suction, spaced parallel tubular branches on the other end of said tubular member and adapted to straddle the slats of a blind, said branches having communication with the tubular member, means closing the free ends of the tubular branches, means in cluding washed sheeps wool secured to the tubular member between the branches. to the branches and to the free ends thereof, in covering relation thereto, the branches and means including the wool having slots only along adjacent faces of said branches, said slots being of in- I creasing width toward the free ends of the branches and having an effective length sub- 2. suction duster for'V'enetian blinds comprising, a tubular member terminatingat one end in spaced parallel tubular branches arranged at an angle to said tubular member and having communication therewith, the other end of. the tubular member being adapted for connection with a source of suction, said branches being adapted to straddle a slat of a blind to be cleaned, means closing the free ends of the branches, means including washed sheep's wool secured to the tubular member between the branches, to the branches and to the free ends thereof in covering relation thereto, the branches and means including the wool having slots only along adjacent faces of said branches, said slots being of increasing width toward the free ,ends of the branches and having an effective length substantially the sameas the width of the slats to be cleaned, whereby the wool contacts and removes 20.

the dust from the slats and the suction draws air and said dust from the sides between the fibers of the wool adjacent the slat surfaces.

EARL c. WESTHOFF.

REFERENCES CITED The following'references are of record in the file of this patent:

stantially the same as the width of the slats to be cleaned to coniine the suction to the portion of theduster substantially contacting said slats.

UNITED STATES PA'I'ENTS Goldfinger Mar. 10, 1942- 

